Shelter From Financial Disaster

By

Kevin Voigt Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Sept. 30, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

Ming Chew has this piece of advice for women: Don't depend on men for your financial well-being. "It's very, very dangerous, they can walk out on you at any time," says the 45-year-old managing director of APF Lifestyle Marketing Pvt. Ltd., a Singapore-based distributor of electronics goods.

In Ms. Chew's case, her 16-year marriage ended two years ago. Although the union produced three children, "it was arranged by my...